Getting back to "normal"

First, I have to clarify- there is no such thing as normal in life. I am like one of those donkeys from the old days- walking a circle day in and day out at the mill, then they set me in the pasture and I still walk in a circle. I'm comfortable doing it, so why change? In other words, I'm happy in a rut. This year, I haven't had a chance to create one. Doesn't look like I'm going to, either. (sigh)





The quilt pictured here was made using this picture Kathi took at my birthday party last month. MaryLee took the picture and turned it into this quilt as a birthday gift! She made one for herself, too- but I had to choose which one to keep!!They are titled BFF


So- I made it back to Guild last week, where we had a fabulous trunk show by Ina Randall, of Amherst (I think?). She has been quilting for a shorter time than I have, but she has truly found her niche! here are a couple of my favorites from her collection.
I did a "convergence" quilt, but didn't recognize this as the same pattern! The other one was made from a pillow from India!














I actually got to sew this week. I'm working on samples for the "Triple Dip" class coming up in a couple of weeks at mt Pleasant. I'm having fun playing with color placement so the students can see their quilt doesn't have to look like mine!



















I've also been knitting some leaves, since I finished the second pair of socks from my vacation. They will go on a little linen jacket I have that needs something. I'm getting better at them, but it still took me two evenings to get the aspen leaf done! They need to be blocked so the maple leaves will uncurl, although that makes the look a bit more real, doesn't it?






Ok, time for a test. WHAT IS THIS????? Seriously- what do you see? I made this pincushion for a swap- using a picture I saw and adapted for my felted wool sweaters. It didn't come out as planned, so I'll be re-purposing this wool. But I thought I'd show it and see what you think it is?
(hint- It's something you see a lot of in a sewing room)





I am grateful for:
Some MUCH cooler weather!
Football (even if it's only the Bills)
My hip has ached less the last week or so
People who "get it."
Me time.

Works in Progress

I'm back in the saddle again!! I've been sewing and knitting and doing my normal boring stuff this week and it feels wonderful!!!! Among the projects I'm working on are samples for my next Scrap Therapy class. This one is called Triple Dip. It's the cutest thing- three projects in one pattern!






While we traveled, I knitted socks, since they are small and portable. I had one sock of the finished pair almost done when we started out and got them done just before we got to Portland, OR. (The halfway point of the trip) I started the other pair first day out on the return trip, but then didn't work on them much for a couple of days because were were sight seeing. The last couple of days we drove a long way and I got a LOT done. I cast on the second sock of that pair the morning before we got home and had the heel turned the same day! 14 hours in the car will do that to you, especially if you're driving through Ohio and Indiana. (sorry- New York is just as boring).

This quilt is called Frankenstein's Monster, because I robbed the old quilt graveyard for spare parts to make it. I am hand quilting it, have two sides of the final border to do and it is registered for a quilt show just 8 weeks away!





My birthday was on one of the days we were traveling, and my best friend said she owed me a celebration. So we had a girls day yesterday in East Aurora. We ate lunch at the cutest little cafe, called Taste. If you're in East Aurora, I recommend it. They give you a celebrity name tag for when your order is ready. I was Annie Lennox and MaryLee was Marilyn Monroe!

This is the dessert I had.















I am grateful for:
Rich desserts
Cooler days and nights the last few days!
Enough to do to keep me busy, but not so much that I can't sleep at night.
Caring and supportive friends ( as always)
Time at my sewing machine!

My vacation

Real quick post today. I was away for a couple of weeks. If you want to know how I spent my summer vacation, look here:


(Hopefully the darned link works!)




I am grateful:
To be back home sleeping in my own bed, with towels that actually dry you off and not having to eat out every night.
for a boring routine- I hope I can find my way back to mine!
for a week of traveling with my son.
Friends who support me, cry with me and take care of me.
That my very patient and strong husband doesn't mind doing most of the driving.